Gingrich '06 Memo: “Agree Entirely With Gov. Romney” on Health Care  —  To conservatives, the biggest strike against Mitt Romney is the health care plan he put in place in Massachusetts, but Newt Gingrich lavished praise on Romney's plan after it was passed in 2006.

Growing wealth widens distance between lawmakers and constituents  —  BUTLER, Pa. — One day after his shift at the steel mill, Gary Myers drove home in his 10-year-old Pontiac and told his wife he was going to run for Congress.  —  The odds were long.  At 34, Myers was the shift foreman at the “hot mill” of the Armco plant here.

‘Mischief’ voters push Paul to front of GOP race  —  Ron Paul is surging in the Republican presidential race.  Just not among Republicans.  —  The Texas congressman is leading some polls in Iowa and is in a tie for second in New Hampshire.  A candidacy once dismissed as sideshow …

Newly recovered court files cast doubt on Gingrich version of first divorce  —  Editor's note: Alan Duke grew up in Carrollton, Georgia, and began his career covering politics there.  He began covering Newt Gingrich during Gingrich's first campaigns for public office.

Van Hollen: 2012 spending bill undercuts government's clean air, water mission  —  House Budget Committee Ranking Member Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) last week criticized Republicans for pushing for further cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the 2012 spending bill …

Treasury plans for euro failure  —  The Government is considering plans to restrict the flow of money in and out of Britain to protect the economy in the event of a full-blown euro break-up.  —  A break up of the euro would have a devastating impact on the UK.

Ron Paul's House record marked by bold strokes, and futility  —  The passage of H.R. 2121, in fall 2009, unfolded without drama.  It allowed for the sale of a customhouse in Galveston, Tex. The House debate took two minutes, and the vote took eight seconds.  The ayes had it.

Japan's Secret Plan to Dominate the World  —  And now for something completely different.  The Counterparties blog today highlights an old post from Eamonn Fingleton arguing that Japan's “Lost Decade” is a myth.  This is not the story I've heard before, suggesting merely that Japan …

Gingrich Compares Virginia Ballot Fiasco to Pearl Harbor  —  Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich stepped into controversy Christmas weekend as he compared his exclusion from the Virginia primary ballot to the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

The Obamas celebrate Kwanzaa in spirit of umoja  —  The Obamas mark Kwanzaa in the spirit of umoja  —  Michelle and I send our warmest wishes to all those celebrating Kwanzaa this holiday season.  —  Today marks the beginning of the week-long celebration honoring African American heritage …